Process and product for artificially browning the skin



United States Patent 3,184,388 PROCESS AND PRODUCT FOR ARTIFICIALLY BROWNING THE SKIN Gregoire Kalopissis, Paris, France, assignor to Societe Anonyme dite: LOreal, Paris, France, a French corporate No Drawing. Filed July 24, 1961, Ser. N 125,964 Claims priority, application France July 25, 1960, 833,916, Patent 1,307,259 Claims. (Cl. 16790) This invention relates to a process and product for use in the artificial browning of the skin.

Various methods for imparting a brown coloration to the skin, similar to that which can be obtained by more or less prolonged exposure to the suns rays, have already been in use for a long time.

One of the commonest methods consists in subjecting the body to the action of an ultra-violet ray lamp, which excites the natural pigmentation. However, this method has disadvantages which arise, on the one hand, out of the fact that it necessitates a special installation, and on the other hand out of the fact that it is advisable to control carefully the dosage of radiation received, as otherwise a physiologically deleterious effect may arise.

The present invention is based on the discovery that the compounds erythrulose (butane-1,3,4-triol-2-one) when brought into contact with the skin, dyes the skin in brown shades of variable depth, so that the skin acquires an appearance very similar to that obtained by exposure to the suns rays.

By the use of this compound it is possible to obtain satisfactory browning of the skin within a few hours without any necessity for exposure to the sun.

I According therefore to a first feature of the present invention a process for imparting to the skin a brown coloration similar to that resulting from the action of the sun, comprises applying to the skin a composition comprising erythrulose and a diluent medium therefor.

The diluent medium must be a solvent of'the erythrulose, but must be also harmless to the skin and able to wet and to facilitate the penetration of the erythrulose into the skin. As diluent medium, one can choose glycerol, polyglycol or other non-ionic surface-active compounds such as polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from 300 to 2,000 and more.

In accordance with one form of the process of the invention, the treatment composition is an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solution of erythrulose of concentration preferably between 0.5% and 10%, the concentration chosen being dependent on the extent of browning of the skin which it is desired to obtain.

A concentration of the erythrulose below 0.5% does not give a suiiicient browning of the skin for commercial purpose.

On the other hand, it is not necessary to incorporate into the solution, more than 10% of erythrulose, since higher concentrations do not increase the browning of the skin obtained with a concentration of 10%.

In a preferred form of the invention, the treatment composition includes one or more substances capable of protecting the skin against the action of ultra-violet radiation. In this way, the application of the composition affords both eifective protection against the suns rays and a rapid coloration of the skin, this coloration being due to a large extent to the action of erythrulose, but to a small extent also to the action of the suns rays.

The treatment compositions may be prepared in the form of lotions, creams or gels and may contain any of the thickening or gelling ingredients known per se for inclusion in cosmetic preparations.

The lotions, creams or gels may be packed in a pressurized container, whereby it is possible to obtain either 3,184,388 Patented May 18, 1965 a very fine dispersion of the solution (aerosol) or an automatic distribution of the cream or of the gel.

According to a further feature of the invention, therefore, there are provided compositions for use in browning the skin which comprise erythrulose together with a diluent medium of such character that the compositions are in the form of creams or gels, or which contain erythrulose, an absorbent for ultra-violet radiation and a diluent medium, the compositions being in the form of lotions, creams or gels.

The following examples will serve to illustrate the invention:

Example I A composition is prepared by mixing 4 g. of erythrulose with sufiicient of 40% aqueous ethyl alcohol to provide 100 cc. of solution.

A layer of this solution is spread on the skin by any means, such as a cotton pad or a brush, and allowed to dry. A light brown coloration slowly develops. If it is desired to deepen the shade obtained, it is sufficient to repeat the operation as many times as desired.

The skin thus treated has a very natural bronzed appearance.

It is also possible to add to the above described solution 2 to 10% of glycerol, polyglycol or non ionic surfaceactive compounds such as polyethylene glycols of a molecular weight from 300 to 2000 and more. The browning of the skin obtained with such solutions is also very natural.

Example II The following composition is prepared: Erythrulose g. 3 Ester of salicylic acid and a polyethyleneglycol g 9 aqueous alcoholic solution, q.s cc

This solution is applied to the skin as indicated in Example I and gives a very natural bronzed appearance, while at the same time the salicylic ester acts as absorbent for ultra-violet rays, whereby the epidermis is protected.

The ester of salicylic acid mentioned in the present example is, of course, not the only compound which can be added to the solution, in order to protect the epidermis against the action of the ultra-violet rays.

One can choose other known compounds such as, for instance, methyl-umbelliferone or methyl-salicylate.

Example III A cream is prepared from:

Lanette wax g 5 Erythrulose g 4 Water, q.s cc 100 Example IV The following composition is prepared: Carbopol g 0.6 Erythrulose g 3 40% aqueous ethyl alcohol, q.s. cc 100 The erythrulose is dissolved in the 40% aqueous alcohol. The solution thus obtained is sprinkled with Carbopol With slow stirring.- The mixture is allowed to swell and there is thus obtained a transparentv gel which can be directly applied to the skin and imparts thereto,

after several hoursfa brown coloration, which can bedeepened by repeating the operation.

I Examip-le V A A solution is prepared from: a T Erythrulose'.. I g '3 Propylencglycol g 0.2 Ethyl alcohol 99.8% q.s. cc .100

This solution is packed in a can under pressure the form of an aerosol, usingthe following mixture:

A process according to claim 1 in which the composition is an aqueous solution of erythrulose.

3. A process according to claim 1 in which the composition is an aqueous-alcoholic solution of erythrulose.

. 7 Parts The above alcoholic solution of erythrulose 33 Trichloromonofiuoromethane (Freon l1) 33 Dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12) r 33 This packing makes it possible to spray the alcoholic erythrulose solution onto the skin in very fine droplets and to obtain in an economic manner an application by which the skin is bronzed.

. Example VI A solution is prepared as follows:' Erythrulose g 3 Cellosolve polyglycol .g 3.5; Carbopol (acrylic polymer) l. ...g..# 0.5

Partially s'ulphated, hydroxyethylenated fatty alcohol, triethanolamine salt ..g. 1

Triethanolamine, q.s. for pH 7.5. a

Water, q.s. -cc 100' This solution is packed in a can under pressure in the.

form of an aerosol, using the following mixture: v

i n e v 7 Parts- Above solution 90 Dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12) 6 Dichlorotetrafiuoroethane (Freon 114) 4 the skin as a very fine foam, which is thereafter spread by the fingers. A regular bronzing is thusobtained.

v 40 The composition, on release from the can deposits on 4. A process according to claim 1 in which the composition is in the form of a cream.

'5. A process according to claim 1 in which the composition contains an absorbent for ultra-violet rays.

6. A composition for dyeing the skin a brown shade having an appearance similar to that resulting from exposure to the suns rays, which comprises, 0.5% to 10% erythrulose in a diluent mediu'm harmless to the skin and a propellant packaged in a pressurized container.

7. A composition for dyeing the skin a brown shade having an appearance similar to that .obtainedby exposure to the suns rays, which comprises; erythrulose having a concentration between 0.5% to 10% in a diluent medium harmless to the skin and an absorbent for ultra-violet rays. 1 I

8. A' composition for dyeing the skin a brown shade having an appearance similar to that obtained by exposure to the suns rays, which comprises; erythrulose having a concentration between 0.5% to 10% in a diluent medium harmless to the skin and a gelifying agent.

-9. A composition for dyeing the skin a brown shade having an appearance similar to that obtained by exposure tothe suns rays, which comprises; erythrulose havinga concentration between 0.5% to 10% in a diluent medium harmless to'the skin and a thickening agent.

' 10. 'A composition for dyeing the skin a brown shade having an appearancesimilar'to tha tgobtained by ex posure to the suns rays, .which 'com'prises; erythrulose having a concentration between.0.5% to 10% in a diluent 7 medium harmless to the skin' and a propellant;

. e References Cited by. the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,949,403 b8/60 Andreadis 1 6791 X OTHER REFERENCES Merck Index, Merck and Co., Rahway, N.J., 7th ed.,

. Pigman: 'CarbohydrateChemistry, Academic Press, New York,.1948, pp. 16 and 41. J ULIANS. LEVITT, Primary Examiner. MORRIS O. WOLK, Examiner. 

1. A PROCESS FOR IMPARTING TO THE SKIN A BROWN SHADE HAVING AN APPEARANCE SIMILAR TO THAT OBTAINED BY EXPOSURE TO THE SUN''S RAYS WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING TO THE SKIN A COMPOSITION CONTAINING AT LEAST 0.5% ERYTHRULOSE IN A DILUENT MEDIUM. 